East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character Appraisal March 2007 - Thurrock Council
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East Tilbury Conservation Area Character Appraisal March 2007
Index Page
Introduction 1
Planning Policy Framework 2
Social and Architectural History 3
The Estate today 6
The five discreet areas 8
• The Central Core
• Factory Site and Bata Avenue
• The Avenues (The flat roof houses on Thomas Bata, King George VI,
Queen Elizabeth, Coronation and Queen Mary Avenues)
• The Crescents (The pitched roof houses on Princess, Gloucester and
Queen Mary Avenues and Farm Road)
• Princess Margaret Road
Community Involvement 13
Boundary changes 13
Management considerations 13
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Thurrock Borough Local Plan 1997 – 14
Conservation area policies
Appendix 2 - Listed buildings in East Tilbury Conservation Area 15
as shown in the 17th list of Buildings of Special Architectural
or Historic Interest (as at January 2007)
www.thurrock.gov.uk
Introduction
East Tilbury (Bata) Conservation Area was designated in 1993.
The designation of a conservation area should not be seen as
an end in itself. It is important that conservation areas are
regularly reviewed and the preparation of a character
appraisal is a part of this process. An appraisal should be
regarded as an opportunity to re-assess a conservation area
and to evaluate its special interest and significance. It is the
defining of special interest that is the main purpose of the
appraisal. The appraisal should also provide a basis for making
sustainable decisions about the future of the conservation
area through the development of management
considerations.
The core of the appraisal is the definition of the special
interest of the East Tilbury (Bata) Conservation Area and this is
intended to provide a vivid, succinct picture of how it is today
together with an evaluation of its key characteristics.
Reference is made to the relevant national and local planning
policy framework. An outline is provided of the steps that
have been taken to involve the local community and other
interested parties in the preparation of the appraisal.
The Conservation Area boundary remains unaltered. An
indication of management considerations is provided
addressing the issues arising from the appraisal.
It is emphasised that no appraisal can ever be fully
comprehensive and the omission of any particular building,
feature or space should not be taken to imply that it is of no
interest.
1
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character Appraisal
Planning Policy Framework
A conservation area is an ‘area of Special Architectural or
Historic Interest, the character or appearance of which it is
desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Planning (Listed Buildings
and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). Designation places certain
duties upon local planning authorities. They must review the
‘special interest’ of their areas from time to time and also
consider whether new conservation areas should be
designated.
The Adopted Thurrock Borough Local Plan 1997 forms part of
the development plan for Thurrock and provides the basis for
decisions on land use planning. It contains policies regarding
the designation, review and enhancement of conservation
areas, together with guidance relating to the control of
development within them. These Local Plan policies are
outlined in Appendix 1.
The Council is currently preparing its Local Development
Framework. This will be a range of documents containing
policies and proposals to guide the future development and
use of land in Thurrock up to 2021, including those relating to
conservation areas. It will form part of the statutory
development plan and will replace the Local Plan.
With regard to the control of development within
conservation areas the Town and Country Planning (General
Permitted Development) Order 1995, requires that planning
applications be made for certain types of development which
are elsewhere considered to be ‘permitted development’. This
includes various types of cladding; the insertion of dormer
windows into roof slopes; the erection of satellite dishes on
walls, roofs or chimneys fronting a highway; and the
installation of radio masts and antennae. The size of house
and industrial extensions that may be carried out in
conservation areas without a specific grant of planning
permission is also more restricted.
2
www.thurrock.gov.uk
Social and architectural history the Bata Company for its employees. For the purposes of
analysing the character of the whole estate, it is
East Tilbury is situated in the eastern half of the borough necessary to look at each of the five areas separately.
of Thurrock in Essex. It lies midway between the historic
settlement of Mucking and the modern settlement of
Chadwell St. Mary. Developed on former farmland, it is A Vision of One Man
very close to the river Thames.
The estate was established in 1933 by the Czech, Tomas
Bata, who came to East Tilbury in 1932 to establish a
British branch of the Bata Shoe Company and
subsequently built the township on land acquired from a
local farmer. The estate was built to an original master
plan in the international modern movement style. All the
buildings on the estate and their locations were carefully
designed to work as a self-contained social mechanism.
The Bata Estate, East Tilbury
The Conservation Area consists of the former factory
complex of the British Bata Shoe Company and a large
housing development of some 352 houses in a ‘garden
village’ setting. This planned settlement was designed by
architects of international importance from Zlin in
Moravia (now in the Czech Republic) and home of the
parent shoe company, which is the only entire
constructivist town in the world. The original master plan
for the Bata estate at East Tilbury mirrors that of Zlin,
although the design of some of the houses did change
with time. Although recent housing has been built to the
east of the Bata estate, the surrounding land on the
north, west and south is flat, open countryside.
Tomas Bata statue
Although Tomas Bata was killed in a plane crash in 1933
and never saw his creation at East Tilbury, his plans for
the estate were continued by his brother and eventually
his son, Tomas Bata junior. The industrial processes,
which Tomas Bata had put in place, were based on
‘Fordism’ and mass marketing. The master plan for the
estate was designed by the Czech architects, Vladimir
Karfik and Frantizek Gahura, who made significant
contributions to the international modern movement in
the 1920’s and 1930’s. Karfik had worked with Le
Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright and was influential in
the Eastern European branch of modern movement
architecture.
The rubber and lether factory buildings
Using the slogan “living separately - working
The design and character of the buildings on the estate together”, the Bata Company generated a great
fall into four distinct styles (reflecting the time at which community spirit amongst employees, the emphasis being
they were constructed) and the central core area, which placed on “healthy competition” in the workplace and
once contained most of the social facilities provided by “wholesome pursuits” outside the working environment.
3
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character AppraisalPhases of Housing Development This was dealt with on a sliding scale of importance and
status. Single people and migrant workers were
The original master plan had been changed with the accommodated in single sex dormitory buildings or the
passage of time and was ultimately never fully realised. Bata Hotel (formerly Community House, now known as
The original plan, proposed and drawn up by Vladimir Stanford House). Married people with families were
Karfik, shows a development many times bigger than the provided with rented accommodation as soon as possible,
estate, which was constructed and exists today, and which grew with the family. The cluster of larger plots
would have constituted a complete new constructivist and properties, with their integral garages, near to the
town on par with the parent company in Zlin. roundabout, were used to house Bata managers and their
families. All the social facilities, however, were communal
The housing was built in stages between 1933 and the and included the following;
mid 1960’s. The oldest properties (in Bata Avenue) are
very much in the Czech style and set in a staggered n A cinema which seated up to 396 people
n An outdoor swimming pool and changing rooms
‘chequerboard’ layout to maximise the garden space to
each property. The Avenues (Thomas Bata, King George
VI and Queen Elizabeth) were set in straight rows leading n Tennis courts and associated pavilion
n Sports ground and football stand
out from the centre of the estate.
The pitched roof houses were largely built after the n A large formal park and war memorial
n A 300 acre farm with dairy herd and fruit orchards
outbreak of the Second World War and represented a
more English taste and the changing architectural
supplying produce for residents to purchase
fashions of the time. The Crescents and Princess Margaret
Avenue properties departed from the international n A large hotel with integrated shops, restaurant, suite
modern movement designs contained in the original for the Bata family and a ballroom for company
master plan. functions
n A college and school
Hierarchy of Accommodation and Social facilities n A medical centre
n A cafe and separate tea shop
All the social facilities necessary were provided by the
Bata Company for their employees. Of paramount n A children’s playground
n A fire station
concern however, was that all employees be housed.
The Bata Estate in the 1950s
4
www.thurrock.gov.ukEast Tilbury Conservation Area Character Appraisal - Special Interest (not to scale)
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Legend:
Significant open space Conservation area boundary
Listed Building
Significant physical/built form
Highways of historic significance
5 n.b. detailed information regarding listed buildings should be verified separately
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of HMSO,
© Crown Copyright. Thurrock Borough Council Licence number 100025457 (2006)The Estate Today Bata owned communal spaces are now largely in private
control, however, the Council maintains the Memorial
The factory complex is still intact, although the Bata Park.
Company no longer owns any buildings or land on the
estate. The three 5 storey factory buildings (the The setting of the whole Conservation Area is enhanced
administration block and former rubber and leather by the central area of open spaces and the original
factories) are in low occupancy and are in need of repair. ‘garden village’ layout can still be appreciated. The estate
It is not clear what the new owners intend to do with the still has the very spacious feel of the original design, so
site and the land holdings purchased from Bata in 1998. evident in plan form. Although the swimming pool and
Many of the smaller buildings in the factory complex are tennis courts are now gone, the tennis courts remain
now let to small companies. open and the landscaping is still apparent, however flats
have been built on the swimming pool site. Although
All of the houses are also privately owned, either by the some ‘modern’ improvements have occurred, these are
occupants or private landlords. The houses in Bata mostly confined to the privately owned properties. The
Avenue used to belong to the company, but these too overall design and infrastructure is still very much in
have been sold, although the tenants are some of the evidence.
original Bata residents and retired employees. The original
Community House, which became the Bata Hotel and is Although there have been a number of alterations and
now Stanford House, has been sub-divided into flats and extensions, the layout and street (or avenue) character,
studio apartments and the former ballroom on the the regular plot and building line character and the block
ground floor is now a parade of retail shops. Many form of the houses have been retained.
communal facilities are gone or rundown. The previously
The Avenues
6
www.thurrock.gov.ukEast Tilbury Conservation Area Character Appraisal - Zones (5 areas) (not to scale)
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7
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of HMSO,
© Crown Copyright. Thurrock Borough Council Licence number 100025457 (2006)The five discreet areas The central open spaces are visually important, not only
in providing a setting for the whole of the Conservation
The design of the buildings is characteristically uniform in Area, but also in separating the various components of
both style and layout within each street or group of the estate housing. While these spaces play an important
buildings. Decoration and embellishment plays a relatively visual and recreational role, many of the built facilities
minor part, although there are some subtleties and (including the swimming pool and tennis courts) have
changes in design details between each zone. In all cases been lost. The loss of these facilities, together with a
the layout is formal. Distinct housing areas were planned general deterioration of grassed areas and the addition of
around central open spaces and an integrated village large areas of hard surfaces gives an impression of
centre where most of the social facilities were located. neglect and decline.
The Conservation Area has five discreet areas - all with Other characteristic features include concrete bollards and
their own distinct character, based on the design and privet or box hedges, which outline the boundaries of the
layout of the buildings and the time at which they were different areas. These are a unifying feature.
built.
Memorial Park
• The Central Core (containing all the social facilities)
The Memorial Park was a large, formal open space,
• Factory Site and Bata Avenue (the earliest part of incorporating the central War Memorial to the men of
the estate) East Tilbury who lost their lives in the Second World War.
• The Avenues (modern movement housing) The park was originally twice the size it is today. The area
now occupied by the East Tilbury Infants and Junior
• The Crescents (pitched roof house design) Schools once formed part of the park. The layout of the
• Princess Margaret Road (most recently built housing) paths can still be seen. The remaining park is now used
as an informal recreation area by residents.
Area 1 - The Central Core The park is bounded on two sides (Princess Margaret
Road and Gloucester Avenue) by hedges and mature
All the built facilities of the original estate were located in poplar trees, a feature of the original landscape design.
and around Stanford House (formerly Community House), Although the hedge is retained around the memorial, the
the largest building outside the factory complex. This is original ground cover has been replaced by mown grass.
the ‘heart’ of the Conservation Area and contains all the Vehicles are restrained to a strip at the western edge of
remaining social facilities on the estate. There are large the park.
areas of open space around the village centre and the
presence of uniform rows of poplar trees is characteristic Coronation Avenue open spaces
of the original landscape design. These trees delineate
the boundaries between the various elements of open The various open spaces adjacent to Coronation Avenue
space and help to balance and enhance the appearance are at the heart of the Conservation Area and provide a
of the larger buildings. central setting for Stanford House and an open view into
the Conservation Area. These spaces also separate the
various components of the estate housing and provide a
focus and centre for residents.
Hard Surfaces
Concrete paving and tarmac occurs in large areas within
the central core area. These areas are predominantly car
parks. However, much of this was once laid to grass in
formal shapes to complement the buildings.
Trees
The central core has remnants of the former lines of
mature poplar trees, many of which fitted in with the
original estate master plan. It is believed that these trees
were also necessary to prevent the soil from becoming
Stanford House (formerly Community House) waterlogged. The existence of these trees is an important
vertical element in a landscape dominated by horizontal
emphasis.
8
www.thurrock.gov.ukHedges Area 2 - Factory Site and Bata Avenue
Privet or box hedging are very characteristic of the Factory Site
original landscape design. They delineate the boundaries
of properties and factory buildings as well as the open The factory complex consists of 13 large buildings ranging
spaces and are a unifying element within the between 1 and 5 storeys in height (and other smaller
Conservation Area. associated buildings and structures), which were built
between 1933 and the late 1950’s. The standardised
Landmark Buildings within the Central Core design and proportions of the 5 storey buildings are a
dominant feature of the factory complex and are very
Within the central core, there are three ‘landmark’ good examples of the modern movement style of
buildings. architecture.
Stanford House - the former Bata Hotel and
Community House. This five-storey building dominates
this part of the Conservation Area and represents the
largest building outside the factory complex. Of similar
design and style to the factory buildings, it provides an
important link between the factory site and estate
housing.
Village Hall - the former cinema building is in a
prominent location in Gloucester Avenue. It still retains
many design details and internal fittings. A Heritage
Lottery Grant was successfully won by the Council who
instigated full repairs, reinstatement of original paving
details and landscaping, new disabled access and Former Bata factory buildings
complete refurbishment of the hall interior (summer The grid layout of the factory site is an important design
1998) element. The measurements both of the buildings and
the proportions of spaces are built into the design and
are crucial to maintain the visual balance between the
sheer size of the buildings and their surroundings.
The three largest buildings on the factory site are the
leather factory (1936) the rubber factory (1938) and
the central office and administration block (1933),
which is a listed building. These buildings are very
characteristic of the modern movement style and very
much mirror the design and scale of building in the
parent company town of Zlin. The characteristic blue
Village Hall (former cinema)
Former Espresso Bar - this building remains intact. It
has had a variety of other uses since the original bar
closed. This building represents the remnant of the
former social facilities and has group value with the
former cinema and company hotel within the central
area.
Trafalgar House (former central office &
administration block)
9
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character Appraisaland white buildings and red logo are visible for some Although of a particular style of architecture their overall
distance, in what is an otherwise flat landscape. size and spacious interiors are capable of adaptation and
sub division and with the input of design guidance
The gatehouse, clock and barriers at the entrance to the (particularly as one of the buildings is statutorily listed)
factory complex are an important component to the the strong design ethos and overall character of the
factory area. These details are clear indicators of the role industrial zone can be maintained.
and original function of this part of the estate and
reminders of the regime and control of the employer. Bata Avenue
Another interesting building within the complex is the These properties are the oldest houses on the estate.
boiler house, built in 1956 from which the whole Although some of the houses closest to the factory site
complex was powered and heated. Its size reflects the were demolished by Bata, they were replaced with
size of boilers required, which have so quickly been replicas of the originals. The remaining properties, on the
other side of the avenue, have been listed as buildings of
Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The 20th century
replacement buildings have successfully replicated the
Bata Avenue character, the spacing, setting back or
forward, building size, style and detail of the original.
outdated and modernised. It is currently used by an
engineering company.
The landscaped gardens at the front of the main
administration building, reinforce the concept of ‘factory
in a garden’. It houses the statue of Tomas Bata and the
gardens are maintained in the way that they have always Bata Avenue houses
been, with low clipped hedging and conical trees, so that
the company logo and image could clearly be seen. Park The properties are widely spaced semi-detached houses,
benches are located outside the factory, set in the original set in a staggered layout. All have large gardens and
concrete paving and formal grassed areas. there are remnants of the original privet hedging. All are
painted render in off white or cream, although the
The Bata logo has been removed from the administration wooden windows and doors were painted in blue, yellow
building and its long association with the estate is far less and green when the Conservation Area was first
obvious. New signage has appeared and the new owners designated. However, following a successful English
lease various smaller buildings to a variety of companies Heritage funded Conservation Area Partnership Scheme
who use spaces within the factory complex to park their and grant award to many of the Bata Avenue houses, the
vehicles and display their own signs, so that the overall original finished colour scheme of the houses was
coherent approach is gradually diminishing. carefully investigated. The paint analysis process revealed
that the original colours were a cream painted render and
The three 5 storey landmark buildings are decaying and a peppermint green finish on all woodwork. The grant-
their continued low occupancy is a threat to their long- aided properties have all been restored to their original
term future, as well as being detrimental to the overall colours. In later years Bata used blue, red, yellow and
character and appearance of the Conservation Area. green paint.
Their repair and occupation would considerably improve
the industrial zone and Conservation Area as a whole, as
these buildings are very visible for some distance both
within and outside of the Conservation Area.
The downsizing of Bata and introduction of new companies
and processes within the factory area present an opportunity
for the regeneration of these larger buildings which are
no longer needed for the manufacturing of shoes.
Bata Avenue house type
10
www.thurrock.gov.ukArea 3 - The Avenues
The Avenues contain the most representative forms of
the flat roofed housing. The cubic form of the houses is a
strong feature of the modern movement and there are
104 pairs of semi-detached properties in the Avenues
(208 homes) making this type of property the most
characteristic of the area as a whole. Central to this
design concept, were the wide spaces between the The Avenues house type
buildings. A large number of the houses are red painted
Many properties have also had extensions or porch
brick, although there are some that are part rendered.
additions, some with pitched roofs, although this has
These variations in external house finishes are in
been largely resisted to date and a detailed Design Guide
substantial blocks and represent phases of building.
should facilitate appropriate forms of extension.
Front boundary walls are mostly of the type illustrated at
figures 1-3 and represent the original low single course
of brick walls put in at the time of construction. Many
boundary walls have been breached to facilitate off road
car parking or vehicular access to garages within the
property boundary. These low boundary walls are an
important design detail of the Avenues.
Brick Walls
The Avenues
Walls delineate the boundaries of the front gardens of
The balcony type houses, with integral garages were
the properties. Often backed by hedges, these were
constructed for managers and their families and are
characteristic of the original landscaping. These are low,
clustered at the south end of Queen Elizabeth and King
single course of brick walls, usually in sand-faced bricks
George VI Avenues.
and occur in the following styles : -
Figure 1
Figure 2
Former manager’s houses Figure 3
Originally, the doors and windows of whole streets were
fitted with a standard design. There is evidence of
original doors and windows. Most have been replaced
with new double glazed units of various styles and
designs. However, there are also a variety of ‘original’
styles, which were first installed to open inwards. It seems
these were subsequently replaced with a choice of
standard styles and explains why some adjoining
properties had slightly different window types, which
were all in period. Some are painted wooden windows
and others are metal Crittal frames, but all are typical of
the thirties era.
11
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character AppraisalAnother unifying feature is the
type of lamp posts used in all
parts of the Conservation Area
typically shown at figure 4.
(except Princess Margaret Road –
the main road into East Tilbury).
There are no communal open
spaces in The Avenues. However,
the front gardens are generous
and thoughtful planting
provided the framework for
adequate tree presence in The
Avenues. Bata originally planted
a cherry tree in the front garden
of each pair of ‘semis’. The loss Gloucester Avenue
of the trees is noticeable. The
The only soft landscaping is provided within front
only other green spaces are the Figure 4 gardens, although the triangular verge at the junction of
small verges formed at road
Farm Road and Gloucester Avenue is important and
junctions. The private gardens are the only source of
retains the feeling of spaciousness evident elsewhere on
landscaping, which was not a problem when Bata owned
the estate.
the whole estate. Sadly, this is a concept that has been
eroded over time.
Area 5 - Princess Margaret Road
Area 4 - The Crescents (Avenues with pitched
The properties in this area are the most recent, having
roof houses)
been built during the 1960’s. They are wide fronted and
set well back from the road line in spacious gardens.
(Princess, Queen Mary and Gloucester Avenues and
Princess Margaret Road forms the entrance and gateway
Farm Road)
into the Conservation Area. Many of the gardens are well
maintained and have mature trees, which is important to
The properties in this area are small semi-detached
the amenity value and overall character of the estate.
houses with hipped roofs and were built between 1939
and the mid 1950’s. They are quite close to the road.
There are 2 basic designs;
Princess Margaret Road
The boundary walls were all in sand-faced bricks in the
Type 1: Type 2:
style typically shown at figures 1-3. Some of these are
Princess Avenue, Gloucester now being replaced and there is a mixture of materials
Gloucester Avenue and Avenue and colours appearing which creates a piecemeal
Queen Mary Avenue approach alien to the otherwise regular street scene.
A number of these properties have been altered or
extended and there are a number of replacement
windows and doors.
12
www.thurrock.gov.ukCommunity involvement Boundary changes
Involving the local community and raising public An important aspect of the appraisal process is the
awareness has been an integral part of the process of consideration of where the boundary of the Conservation
preparing the character appraisal. Area should be drawn. The appropriateness of current
boundaries should be regularly reassessed, perhaps on a
This took the form of sending consultation letters to all five-year cycle (Guidance on conservation area
residents and occupants in the Conservation Area appraisals – English Heritage 2006).
requesting views on the following-
No boundary changes are considered necessary at this
n What features are important to East Tilbury time.
Conservation Area and make it special
n What adds to the character
Management considerations
n What takes away from the character
In East Tilbury Conservation Area the following
management issues should be considered:
Included with the consultation letter was a questionnaire
together with a plan of the Conservation Area and a
1. Retention of the important existing characteristics of
summary of the considered character and possible issues.
the historic industrial model garden village settlement
form, the roads, avenues, lanes, plots, buildings,
In addition, the entire public consultation process took
spaces, vistas, trees, hedges, and surrounding fields of
place online on the Council’s website. Notice of the
the industrial, commercial and residential
public exhibitions was given in the local press.
development.
Local ward members, the MP and other interested parties
2. Replacement of the avenues of trees, which were
were also consulted.
integral with the original design concept, and
An exhibition with historic maps, photographs and
3. Review of the existing Design Guide and further
documents was held on 21 and 23 September 2006 at
appropriate protection be proposed for identified
East Tilbury Village Hall, East Tilbury where Officers were
features.
available to talk through issues and answer questions.
Once a conservation area is designated, additional
The consultation responses affirmed the following issues:
planning controls can be introduced by limiting permitted
n The importance of the designated Conservation Area
development rights through the issue of an Article 4(2)
direction under the Town and Country Planning (General
n The possible expansion to include other areas of
Permitted Development) Order 1995. Planning permission
would then be required for the works that are specified.
special interest
n Involvement of the public in the process of character
The original character of some buildings in the
Conservation Area has already been altered, through for
appraisals
example replacement windows, concrete roof tiles, and
n Involvement of the public in the production of
the painting or rendering of brickwork. It is important to
try and prevent further erosion from such changes.
management proposals
n The preservation and management of the special
The restoration of original features should be promoted.
The spread of the use of UPVC, a material that is neither
issues
sympathetic in appearance nor sustainable should be
n Any new proposal should respect and not detract
checked.
from the existing character
Poor maintenance means that there will be a need to
replace windows in many buildings and in such
circumstances the opportunity should be taken to ensure
the new windows are in character.
13
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character AppraisalThe appearance of properties that have already the potential to be a problem. The Council will consider
undergone alteration would be greatly improved if new the production of design guidance with regard to matters
windows were inserted to the original pattern. Front of the nature outlined and reserves the right to consider
doors can also contribute greatly to the appearance of the use of Article 4 directions if necessary.
houses and controls to ensure that they are not replaced
unsympathetically may also be valuable. It is intended to produce Management Proposals for East
Tilbury Conservation Area. The Management Proposals will
Exposed and prominent boundary treatments in the outline general and specific issues relevant to the Conservation
Conservation Area are important and their alteration has Area and may include recommendations for action
Appendix 1 – Thurrock Borough Local Plan 1997 – Conservation Area policies
BE22 – Conservation Areas – Designation, Review (ii) The position of new buildings, which should enhance
and Enhancement the character and appearance of the area and be in
scale and harmony with the adjoining buildings and
‘The Council will regularly review conservation area the area as a whole;
boundaries, amend them when necessary and examine
the need to designate new conservation areas using the (iii) The use of materials, which should be appropriate to
following broad criteria to assess the special interest of the area and sympathetic to adjoining buildings.
areas:
The desirability of preserving or enhancing the area will
(i) The origins and development of the topography of also be taken into consideration by the Council in the
the area; handling of development proposals which are outside the
area but would affect its setting, or views into or out of
(ii) Archaeological significance and potential;
the area.’
(iii) Prevalent building materials, character and hierarchy
of spaces;
BE-23A-Demolition in Conservation Areas
(iv) The quality and relationship of buildings in the area
including the contribution of unlisted buildings;
‘The Council will not grant consent for the total or
(v) The contribution made by trees and other green substantial demolition of a building in a conservation area
features. unless it can be shown to their satisfaction that the
building is wholly beyond repair; incapable of reasonably
Using the above criteria, the Council will also formulate beneficial use; or where its removal would enhance the
and publish proposals for the preservation and character or appearance of the area.
enhancement of conservation areas’.
If necessary, the Council will impose a condition on the
grant of any consent providing that any development
BE23 – Development affecting Conservation Areas shall not take place before a contract for carrying out the
works of redevelopment on the site has been granted for
‘Development proposals within, adjacent to, or affecting the development for which the contract provides.’
the Borough’s conservation areas will be expected to
preserve and enhance their character or appearance. The
Council will not permit any development that would be in BE24-Article Four Directions in Conservation Areas
conflict with this objective.
‘In exceptional circumstances, including where there are
In this regard, special attention will be paid to the real and specific threats to the character of the
following: conservation area, and subject to approval by the
Secretary of State, the Council will make direction under
(i) The retention and protection of all buildings, article 4 of the General Development Order to restrict
whether listed or not, trees and any other features permitted development rights in conservation areas.’
which are important to the character or appearance
of that area;
14
www.thurrock.gov.ukAppendix 2- Listed Buildings in the East Tilbury (Bata) Conservation
Area as shown in the 17th list of Buildings of Special Architectural or
Historic Interest (as at January 2007)
BATA AVENUE BATA AVENUE
No 2. (known as ‘the hostel’) Nos 16 and 18 (even)
Grade II GV Grade II GV
House. 1930-1933. Designed by Vladimir Karfik and Identical to nos 4 and 6 Bata Avenue. Forms a group with
Frantizek Gahura and built by a variety of local nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
contractors. Flat roofed. Hybrid construction, with front
and side walls of concrete poured in lifts of about one
metre in height; interior partition and rear walls appear to BATA AVENUE
be made from brick and then faced in concrete. Nos 24 and 26 (even)
International Style. Two storeys and four-window range
with half landing window on centre axis above main Grade II GV
entrance. Entrances on returns. Thin projecting cornice.
All openings flat arched. One of a pair of gateway Identical to nos 4 and 6 Bata Avenue. Forms a group with
buildings to Bata Avenue, their design was unique. Forms nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
a group with nos 4-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
BATA AVENUE
BATA AVENUE Nos 28 and 30 (even)
Nos 4 and 6 (even)
Grade II GV
Grade II GV
Identical to nos 4 and 6 Bata Avenue. Forms a group with
Semi-detached houses. 1930-33. Designed by Vladimir nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
Karfik and Frantizek Gahura, and built by various local
contractors. Flat roofed. Hybrid construction with
concrete poured in lifts of roughly one metre in height to BATA AVENUE
front and side walls; interior partition and rear walls of Nos 32 and 34 (even)
brickfaced with concrete. Two storeys and two-window
range to the pair; rectangular bay to each sitting room; Grade II GV
entrances on the returns with one small window to each
floor. Four-window range to the rear. Stack to party wall. Identical to nos 4 and 6 Bata Avenue. Forms a group with
International Style. Nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue form a nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
group.
PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD (south west side)
BATA AVENUE Building 13, Bata Factory, Bata Estate
Nos 8 and 10 (even)
Grade II
Grade II GV
Factory. 1933, to the designs of Czechoslovakian
Identical to nos 4 and 6, forming a group with nos 2-34 architect Frantizek L. Gahura. Reinforced concrete frame
(even) Bata Avenue. with painted brick spandrel and metal framed windows;
flat roof with shallow projecting cornice. Rectangular
plan, three bays by thirteen bays, with thin, full-height
BATA AVENUE pilaster strips articulating each. Left return with centre
Nos 12 and 14 (even) three bays projecting forward to form circulation spine;
centremost bay projects further and is glazed. Utility
Grade II GV sheds to roof above. External fire stair to right return of
an authentic design. An exceptionally early and complete
Identical to nos 4 and 6 Bata Avenue. Forms a group with example of International Style building in Britain.
nos 2-34 (even) Bata Avenue.
15
East Tilbury Conservation Area - Character Appraisal16 www.thurrock.gov.uk
TCTA/6/07 www.thurrock.gov.uk
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